Belle Hélène Pears Beer

Belle Hélène Pears Beer is a surprisingly strong pear flavoured beer made by Multibrasses in Tingwick, Quebec. It clocks in at a muscular 8% alcohol. Belle Hélène is sold in 341mL bottles. It looks just like a faintly cloudy lager. It's yellow gold and topped with a white head.

Pear, in my opinion, is one of the most under-appreciated fruits. It's versatile and delicious--I was pretty fired up to see it turn up in a beer. Belle Hélène has a sweet aroma that's fruity and has a faint metallic clink to it. The flavour is cider-like--slightly sweet and slightly tart. Also, like many ciders, the mouthfeel is very dry. There's a considerable malt presence and substantial hop finish. It's undeniably beer. It has the boozy warmth of a Belgian ale, but balanced against an uncommon pear flavour.

This is a quality fruit beer. The pear flavour is present, but delightfully understated. It's an accent rather than the main attraction. It's a top shelf flavoured brew.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.